What Is Depression?
Depression (major depressive disorder) is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act. Fortunately, it is also treatable.
Depression
Learn about depression, including symptoms, risk factors, treatment options and answers to your questions.
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March Issues of American Psychiatric Association Journals Cover Advances in Depression Treatment, Suicide Risk Screening, and Mental Health Help Seeking Among Indigenous Populations
The March issues of two of the American Psychiatric Association’s journals, The American Journal of Psychiatry and Psychiatric Services are now available online.
PsychNews Special Report: Validity in Psychiatric Diagnosis: Rethinking Mood Disorders
In this episode, Dr. Adrian Preda speaks with Dr. S. Nassir Ghaemi about the limitations of the DSM framework in diagnosing mood disorders and explores the case for returning to more valid, clinically grounded approaches. They discuss the historical context of manic-depressive illness, the role of mixed states and mood temperaments, and how reframing diagnoses can lead to more effective treatment.
Infertility: The Impact of Stress and Mental Health
Infertility, though often not talked about, is common. An estimated one in eight couples (or 12% of married women) have trouble getting pregnant or sustaining a pregnancy. There are a range of complex connections between mental health and infertility.
How to Boost Mental Health Through Better Nutrition
The relationship between nutrition and mental health is bidirectional: the foods we eat affect our mental health, and our mental health status affects what and how well we eat. This month, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and the American Society for Nutrition (ASN) are partnering to highlight the interconnectedness of nutrition and mental health. To learn more about how the public views diet and mental health, APA conducted a poll between March 16 and 17, 2023, among a sample of 2,200
Depression
Learn about depression, including symptoms, risk factors, treatment options and answers to your questions.
Women, Disasters and Resilience
Do women experience disasters, including planning, preparedness, response and recovery, differently than men? That is the question examined in a new report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The report looks at the long-held notion in disaster behavioral health research that "women are more vulnerable to adverse mental health consequences of disaster than are men."
Purpose in Life Can Lead to Less Stress, Better Mental Well-being
What is purpose in life? It means having a central, organizing life aim, an overall sense of direction in one's life, and a belief that one’s life activities are valuable and important — making a positive mark on the world. Research indicates that having a purpose in life is good for mental health. For example, having greater purpose in life was significantly associated with lower levels of depression and anxiety.
New Patient Guide for Mood and Anxiety Disorders Available to the Public
A new book developed by the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) and published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) provides readers with the evidence-based knowledge and tools to understand mood disorders and make informed decisions toward lasting mental health and wellbeing.
Stressed at Work: Occupations with the Highest Mental Distress
A new study finds that people who work in the arts, design, entertainment, sports, and the media are more likely to have frequent mental distress than those in other fields. Overall, about one in ten workers reported frequent mental distress, according to the study, published in June in JAMA Network Open.
How Endometriosis, a Common, Painful Condition Many Women Face, Can Impact Mental Health
Endometriosis is a common, often painful condition in which the type of tissue that forms the lining of the uterus (the endometrium) is found outside the uterus. The most common symptom of endometriosis is chronic pelvic pain, especially just before and during the menstrual period. Endometriosis is also associated with mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety, and a reduced quality of life.
Talking about Veteran’s Mental Health
The questions and answers below are some adapted from a recent Twitter chat APA hosted on veteran’s mental health.
Expectations, the Placebo Effect and Improving Outcomes for Children and Youth
The phenomenon of high placebo response can be a “formidable challenge in clinical trials but a largely untapped resource in clinical practice,” authors Jeffrey R. Strawn, M.D., and colleagues write in a chapter in a new book from APA Publishing on prescribing mental health medication to youth.